Transportation Managers

In the transportation industry, managers are responsible for the movement of people and goods over distances, whether by air, rail, ocean, or highway. They, and their staff, are responsible for launching and tracking the transport vehicles across the globe, and may even manage vehicle storage facilities from airports to truck warehouses. These managers invest much of their time keeping tabs on operations to make sure they comply with all types of policy and procedure, from safety rules to union contracts and government regulations. Transportation managers are in close communication with those involved in the transportation process; they need to keep up-to-the-minute tabs on the location of goods. Accuracy, time pressure and dealing with conflict or troubleshooting are normal parts of the job. Having the flexibility to move from being strong leaders who see the big picture, to planning the details, is a hallmark of the job. Entering the field usually requires a bachelor's degree in a business field. Knowledge of supply chain management, or contract negotiation, is helpful. Some jobs only require relevant work experience in the business, or the type of product they need to move.

What they do:

Plan, direct, or coordinate the transportation operations within an organization or the activities of organizations that provide transportation services.

On the job, you would:

Plan, organize, or manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements.

Direct activities related to dispatching, routing, or tracking transportation vehicles, such as aircraft or railroad cars.

Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, environmental policies, or government regulations.

Transportation

movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Business

management

customer service

Safety and Government

public safety and security

law and government

Math and Science

arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Basic Skills

reading work related information

talking to others

Problem Solving

noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

changing what is done based on other people's actions

bringing people together to solve differences

Verbal

communicate by speaking

communicate by writing

Ideas and Logic

notice when problems happen

use rules to solve problems

Math

add, subtract, multiply, or divide

choose the right type of math to solve a problem

People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.